WEIRD and wonderful recycled objects are being turned into works of art in North Tyneside.

Procter and Gamble (P&G) is among local firms who are donating items to the House of Objects.

The innovative centre collects waste and leftover materials like glass, card and metal and uses them in workshops for children and other groups.

P&G’s Newcastle Technical Centre (NTC) in Longbenton, which develops washing powder and detergents which are sold all around the world, has been supplying House of Objects with a steady stream of materials since the project opened in April.

Drums from washing machines, perfume sample cases, display boxes, Tupperware, leftover plastic, metal containers and a fax machine are among items which have been handed over.

Members of P&G’s Community Matters Team and Green Team at NTC have worked together to make sure any items that P&G no longer require are donated to House of Objects.

Employees are encouraged to drop off any waste goods at points around the site for pick-up by the project.

Lianne Pelmi P&G’s Green Team said while the company recycled many items elsewhere, they wanted to take on an initiative which would have an impact closer to home.

The firm also recycles computers, some of the old furniture goes into old people’s homes and washing power is given to care homes and hospitals. Lianne said: “It’s a lot of stuff which would normally get put into landfill because it’s not easily recyclable. It’s a fantastic way of getting use out of our surplus items.”

Gill Hardy, P&G’s community matters co-ordinator at the Longbenton site, said: “P&G has a strong commitment to green issues, and we are delighted to be able to help the House of Objects. We had in mind the kind of things they would want from us, but we were surprised at just how much they could use from cardboard and plastic to string and rubber bands.

“It is an innovative centre that we are proud to work with and being able to support the creative education of children while recycling our waste materials is fantastic.”

The donations of materials from local businesses are used by visiting children and members of the community from across North Tyneside.

The visitors are offered a range of materials and objects and encouraged to create pieces of art while learning about recycling and the environment.

Elaine Mason, project designer and manager of House of Objects, said: “It is great that P&G donates its waste materials to us regularly. The wide range of objects we receive from them is brilliant for what we are trying to achieve here.

“Our aim is to minimise the amount of waste our community produces while giving children the chance to make creative use of objects they wouldn’t usually come across.

“We’re really keen to get more. We’ve got a good range of items, but we’re interested in getting more stuff that’s perhaps a bit odd and will provide even more inspiration. There are a lot of things here that would be going to landfill.

“That’s the environmental message we’re trying to get across to the children, that we don’t need new resources, that using new resources isn’t good for the environment. That’s a really positive message to give to children.”